Livingstone Condemns Estonian Gay Pride Violence

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has commented on the violence which marked last weekend’s Estonian Gay Pride.

Mr Livingstone, who has a long record of supporting gay rights, condemned the “failure of the police and political authorities in Tallinn to protect lesbian and gay citizens from violence”.

“At Tallinn Pride 2006 there was a bomb threat and violent protestors injured a dozen people, which is similar to previous years when gay bars received bomb threats and participants were harassed”

The Mayor said that “having permitted the parade, and being aware of the potential for violence, Tallinn City Council and the city’s police should have taken all reasonable steps to robustly defend the fundamental human rights of those taking part.”

The Mayor as previously spoken out against violence at Gay Pride events this year in Latvia, Poland, Russia, Moldova and Romania, a position he reiterated in today’s statement.

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